A Week with the Holden Volt Extended Range Electric Vehicle

General Motors Holden were generous enough to recently loan EV News a Holden Volt for a week.

On sale in Australia since November 2012, the Holden Volt is a right hand drive version of the Chevy Volt minus a few features like OnStar and the RemoteLink mobile app.

The Volt has the same sized battery (16 kWh) as the all electric Mitsubishi iMiEV but because the Volt is a much larger car, carries around the weight of a 1.4 Lt petrol engine and as a result weighs 70% more than the iMiEV (1,080 kg Vs 1,715 kg) it falls short of the iMiEV's 150 km battery range. The Volt routinely achieves 70 - 80 km from a full charge in EV mode out of a total combined range of 600 km.

Having now driven a couple thousand kilometres in the Holden plug-in hybrid, I've noticed the Voltec powertrain has more acceleration power in charge-sustain mode (114 kw / 155 hp) than the maximum available in EV mode (107 kw / 145 hp). While 150 horsepower doesn't sound like much, when combined with more torque than a 3.5 Lt Commodore V6 (370 Nm) multiplied by the 7:1 reduction gear ratio, the Volt has impressive mid range acceleration. The Voltec powertrain has four modes of operation so that with a depleted battery & under heavy load the 54 kw ICE / generator combines with the 111 kw main traction motor to provide extra power on demand.

The Cruze based Holden Volt is the best handling FWD car I've ever driven. The low mid-mounted weight of the battery pack balances out the usual understeer inducing front heaviness of most transverse engined front wheel drive cars.

GM's engineers have done a great job on the suspension. The ride is a fraction on the soft side but the weight of the car is only mildly noticeable on 'choppy' road surfaces. The electric power steering is perfectly weighted and because power assistance 'turns-off' when steering straight ahead it has a self-centering effect which requires minimal input and makes the car very relaxing to drive.

Brake Regeneration

The Volt's primary braking system is regeneration using the 3 phase BLDC traction motor. The legacy hydraulic friction brakes are only sometimes required below 5 km/h to bring the car to a stop. Brake pad and disc rotor wear should be so low that, like many Prius owners have discovered, brake pads on hybrids last up to 320,000 kms.

As a result, the days are definitely numbered for brake pad manufacturers. In fact, given the constantly increasing market share of hybrids, the entire hydraulic brake system is rapidly becoming redundant and is well on it's way towards obsolescence (to be replaced by Wheel Motors?).

The brake system blends in regenerative and hydraulic braking forces depending upon driving conditions. Due to the brake-by-wire nature of the system, pedal feel on the Volt is slightly different to "regular" brakes. During normal driving there is no direct hydraulic connection between the brake pedal and the brake calipers. Instead the Volt has a "pedal feel simulator" that "fakes" hydraulic feedback pressure while isolating the master cylinder from the brake calipers with solenoid operated valves during brake regeneration. Brake operation at parking speeds can feel a bit 'notchy'.

A little green ball on the drivers dash display indicates every time the brakes are applied too heavily i.e. any time the friction brakes are used. The Green ball turns into a sun-like fireball indicating that using anything other than regeneration to slow the vehicle is considered 'inefficient'.

In operation the regen brakes are the single best feature of the Volt. After just a couple of days I found myself either one pedal driving using the 'L' position on the gear lever to increase regen when required or no pedal driving, alternating between the cruise control and the gear lever depending on the severity of road undulations. It is possible to maximize regeneration using the brake pedal but that requires 'riding' the brakes to get the same effect as using 'L' on the gear lever.

Inverse Cruise Control

I've never driven a car that requires the use of cruise control to stop it slowing down too much. In 'Low' gear, the Volt's regeneration is maximised to save more energy to the battery to extend the vehicles range. Brake regeneration in 'Low gear' is so strong that it continuously decelerates the car even on the steepest downhill grades (including the infamous Mt Ousley) so cruise control needs to be engaged to maintain a minimum highway speed to prevent the car from grinding to a halt.

Hairpin bends are a delight in the Volt. While 'no pedal' driving, on approach to a tight corner or hairpin bend you simply cancel the cruise control and the car automatically starts braking for the corner. The trick is learning how 'late' to do this as the regen braking effect is so strong you'll initially find yourself braking much too early and having to accelerate again to reach the corner apex.

EV News tested the Volt along the Putty Road just out of Sydney which contains several sections of 45 & 35 km hairpin corners. Once we got a handle on the 'late' braking required it was fairly easy to take even the tightest corners without brake pedal input. The only time the friction brakes were applied was when we noticed a warning light on the dashboard indicating the car had triggered the stability control a few times due to the lateral Gs around the hairpin bends.

Overall the Volt is a brilliantly executed example of automotive innovation that makes any ICE only car seem primitive by comparison. It combines the benefits of a full EV powertrain with a part-time duty-cycle ICE to provide 600 km of combined range. Where the Toyota Prius is an ICE powered car with electric assistance, the Holden Volt is a plug-in electric car with ICE assistance.

The Volt fills the gap between the 500 km range Tesla Model S, which due to it's 85 kWh battery can costs over $100k, and the more affordable but shorter range battery only cars like the Mitsubishi iMiEV and the Nissan Leaf. Now if the DoE can just get those battery costs down....

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First Holden Volt Deliveries Begin In Australia

Holden car dealers in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia are among the first in Australia to take delivery of the all new Volt long range electric car this week.

Nine specialist dealers in NSW, nine in QLD and seven in WA will add a Volt to their demonstration fleets and can begin delivering cars to their first customers in coming days.

Holden Executive Director – Sales and Marketing, Philip Brook said there had been strong interest in Volt since dealers were announced in June and television advertising had begun.

“Volt really seems to have captured people’s imagination thanks to its range extension technology. As the first car of its kind to go on sale in Australia, drivers want to understand how the technology works and what it feels like to drive and live with an electric car.

“Now that the dealers have a permanent demo on hand, customers will be able to experience the unique technology of Volt for themselves.”

As part of the commitment to become a specialist dealer, each Holden Volt dealer has invested in training and equipment and has committed to achieving environmental accreditation. They have also installed a dedicated Volt charging station in both the sales and service areas.

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Holden Volt To Make NSW Debut @ Hunter Valley EV Festival

Holden’s forthcoming long-range electric car, the Holden Volt, will go on public display for the first time in New South Wales at the Hunter Valley EV Festival on Saturday 18 August.

The Festival will be held at Newcastle Foreshore Park from 10am – 4pm and will see the Holden Volt take to the demonstration track alongside other alternative technology vehicles.

Dubbed the long range electric car, the Holden Volt features unique range extension technology that offers an electric range of up to 87 kilometres that can be extended to a total range of over 600 kilometres through an on board petrol generator that maintains the charge in the battery, to keep you going.

Holden Performance Engineer, Dion Schulz has been undertaking validation work on Volt for the past nine months and will be on hand at the EV Festival to answer questions about the all new electric car.

“Although Volt doesn’t go on sale until later in the year, we’ve had a great reaction from members of the public when they’ve seen our evaluation cars on the road.

“They want to know what it’s like to live with an electric car, how far you can travel between charges and how easy it is to charge at home or at work. Then there are questions about how the technology works and how long it will be until everyone has an electric car on their driveway.

“Events such as the Hunter Valley Electric Vehicle Festival are great for spreading the word about alternative vehicles and give us the opportunity to answer all those questions and more.”

Prospective Volt buyers can now place an order with their nearest specialist Volt dealer.

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Holden Volt TV Commercial "changes everything" [VIDEO]

New Holden Volt TV Commercial running with the theme "Every now and then we do something that changes everything."

The long range electric Holden Volt. The first car of its kind in Australia is coming.

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Holden Volt TV Commercial "Amazing things with electricity" [VIDEO]

New Holden Volt TV Commercial running with the theme "You can do amazing things with electricity".

The long range electric Holden Volt. The first car of its kind in Australia is coming.

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Electric Holden Commodore Enters Fleet Test Phase [VIDEO]

EV Engineering, the Melbourne-based start-up developing electric Holden Commodores, today announced the completion of the build phase of the project.

“We have demonstrated that it is possible to engineer and build a fully electric version of one of Australia’s most popular large passenger cars, with no compromises on safety, comfort or performance,” said CEO of EV Engineering, Ian McCleave.

“The cars have surpassed our expectations, and many people have said they are the best electric cars they have ever driven. This gives us confidence that in the next phase we will achieve our second project goal of demonstrating the customer attractiveness of a large electric car,” Mr McCleave said.

In the evaluation phase, the seven Commodores will be placed in member fleets and assessed on performance, reliability and customer experience. It is anticipated that each car will drive approximately 30,000 – 50,000 km over the coming two years.

“We have already had good feedback about the vehicle from the trial with COMCAR, one of the country’s most prestigious and demanding fleets. We have also spoken with the majority of other large Australian fleets and they have a strong appetite to trial a large electric car as part of their vehicle mix. This shows that there is clear customer demand for the kind of car we’ve developed, which is great news for an industry that is facing a swing away from large petrol vehicles.

“Our results provide a solid foundation for the continuing development of EV skills and capabilities in Australia, and we look forward to harnessing further opportunities to apply our expertise,” Mr McCleave said.

The seven completed cars include two Calais wagons and five Calais sedans. Each car has a range of approximately 160km before recharging is required, and deliver a range of between 120-150km in realworld driving.

Key performance parameters

0 – 100 kph 8.5 seconds

Passing 60 – 100 kph 4.3 seconds

Top speed 138kph

Range (NEDC cycle) 160km

Specification

Motor 145 kW / 400 Nm

Charging AC 16 Amp / DC (approximately 8 hours)

Range extension Battery switch (< 5 minutes)

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Holden confirms Volt priced @ $59,990

Holden has confirmed our report of a fortnight ago officially pricing the Volt at $59,990 RRP (plus dealer delivery charges and related taxes) when it goes on sale in Australia later this year.

To offset its premium pricing, the Cruze-sized extended-range electric Volt will feature a comprehensive list of standard equipment including advanced safety features new to the Holden range.

Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning will be offered for the first time in a Holden, ensuring Volt offers some of the most advanced vehicle technology and cutting edge safety features in Australia.

The Volt’s Forward Collision Alert features front sensor indicators positioned on the windscreen alerting the driver via an audible alarm if they are travelling too close to the vehicle in front.

A Lane Departure Warning camera is also positioned on the windscreen and detects if the driver veers or swerves out of a marked lane without indicating.

Volt’s safety is further enhanced with the inclusion of eight airbags and a rear view camera.

The Volt’s infotainment system continues the theme of advanced technology, with a standard 7-inch colour LCD touch screen, satellite navigation, audio interface including voice recognition and Bluetooth®, DVD playback, MP3 plug and play functionality and USB input with iPod® compatibility.

A 30GB inbuilt hard drive enables users to store their own music tracks while audio is delivered through a six speaker premium Bose® audio system with amplifier and sub woofer.

Even Volt’s sound system is focused on minimising energy usage. The Bose® Energy Efficiency Series speaker system uses 50 per cent less energy than comparable Bose® systems but with a sound that remains 100 per cent crystal clear.

Holden Executive Director – Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth said Holden had highly specified the Volt for its launch in Australia.

“Volt will offer some of the most advanced electric vehicle technologies in Australia and has won a long list of awards and fans around the globe,” Mr Elsworth said.

“It is the perfect package of stylish design, advanced technology and premium features that proves electric cars don’t need to be quirky to make a statement.

“It’s a fantastic car to drive, with great handling and the performance you’ve come to expect from a Holden and it will have real appeal to buyers looking to drive the latest in technology, without having to compromise on either range or functionality.

“With all of the standard premium features, Volt makes a very compelling choice for car buyers who may not have considered an electric car before or may be looking at premium European vehicles.”

As with all new Holden owners, Volt drivers benefit from the peace of mind provided by the HoldenWise aftersales service. Capped price servicing of $185 (inc GST) is offered on the first four standard scheduled log book services for the first three years or 60,000km, whichever comes first.

Additionally Holden has today confirmed an eight year/160,000 kilometre warranty will be offered on the Volt battery and Voltec components. The warranty includes all 161 components of the Volt’s battery, its charging, thermal-management system and components of its electric drive system and is transferable to other vehicle owners.

Prospective Volt buyers can now place an order with their local specialist dealer with the first cars scheduled to be delivered to customers before the end of the year. A full list of Volt dealers can be found at theHoldenHQ blog or via the Holden dealer locator.

Holden Volt Specification and Feature Highlights:

Interior

Volt’s cockpit design creates a unique driving experience. The touch sensitive centre stack houses a 7-inch LCD colour touch screen which relays real-time information on energy use and power flow to the driver. It offers the driver efficiency feedback based on driving style and climate settings and will even give tips on how to reduce energy usage.

Voice recognition allows voice control on certain Bluetooth® radio, audio system and navigation functions, including selecting radio stations, audio tracks, navigation settings and preset destinations.

Range

Volt is powered by GM’s revolutionary electric propulsion system; it consists of a 16.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric drive unit that provide a pure electric range of up to 87 kilometres depending on driving conditions. (the 2012 Chevy Volt claims a maximum EV mode range of 38 miles - 60 km) A 1.4 litre petrol-powered generator extends the range by maintaining a charge in the battery to power the wheels until the car can be recharged, giving a total range of over 600 kilometres depending on conditions.

Drivers can choose from three driving modes – normal, sport and hold. Sport mode is designed to give the driver maximum driving enjoyment through heightened response times and sports feedback. Alternatively the driver can select hold mode, which conserves the power in the battery and maintains an electric charge from the petrol generator.

Engine and Transmission

Electric drive unit which incorporates automatic transmission – electronic ratio select

1.4 litre DOHC petrol 4-cylinder engine

Battery - 16.5-kWh lithium-ion rechargeable energy storage system; includes liquid thermal management system with active control

Output 111kW @ 5000rpm (est)

Electric drive – 370Nm torque

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The Australian Holden Volt price is $60,000

General Motors Holden have priced the Volt Plug-In hybrid at $60,000 plus on-road costs.

Having announced the 49 dealers that will sell and service the Volt earlier this week and revealing that orders have already been placed by the first Volt customers, EV News calls to one of the dealers listed confirm the retail price will be $60k, approx $10,000 more than the Nissan Leaf in Australia.

Holden chief executive Mike Devereux has said Holden will not approach the federal government for financial incentives to help buyers. "It's not our intention to seek (government) support for the Volt," he says. "This car is viable on its own, otherwise I wouldn't be bringing it here."

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Holden Charging Towards Volt Launch

General Motors Holden and ChargePoint unveiled the first electric vehicle charging station for Volt drivers in Port Melbourne outside Holden’s AUSTRALIAN headquarters today.

The Volt charging station is powered by Origin’s government-certified 100 per cent GreenPower and will be available to Holden Volt drivers in one of Melbourne’s fast-growing business and industrial precincts.

The Holden Volt can recharge in less than four hours using the dedicated level two, 3.3kW charging station.

To support the Volt launch, ChargePoint has also installed six more green energy charging stations in Holden’s engineering and design headquarters and at its Proving Ground in Lang Lang for Holden employees driving Volt evaluation vehicles and working on the program.

Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Industry and Innovation, the Hon Greg Combet AM MP was the first member of the public to plug into the petrol pump of the future with one of Holden’s first Volt vehicles.

Joining the Minister for the unveiling was Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, ChargePoint CEO James Brown and Holden’s Executive Director Engineering Greg Tyus.

Mr Tyus, whose engineering team is responsible for preparing the Volt for Australia, said Volt would change the way Australians think about sustainable transport and Holden.

"Volt can travel a distance of up to 80 kilometres on pure electric driving – more than enough for most drivers to commute each day without visiting a petrol station.

“You can drive emission free and recharge at home from a standard power outlet in less than six hours for around $2.50,” he said.

“If you need to drive further in one trip the Volt’s back-up generator, a 1.4 petrol engine, will kick in seamlessly to recharge the battery and take you more than 600 kilometres. With this sort of range, suddenly Volt becomes an extremely attractive electric vehicle and possibly your only car.

“Our engineering team is doing the final validation work around the launch of Volt in Australia. We’re really excited to have our first cars on the road and we’re looking forward to announcing more details to customers soon,” Mr Tyus said.

Speaking at the launch, ChargePoint CEO James Brown said there would be a growing need for infrastructure in Australia to support new EVs coming to market.

“In the coming years more and more of the world’s most respected car manufacturers will head down the EV path and ChargePoint will be there to ensure use of the best possible technology to support the charging requirements of these vehicles,” he said.

Origin Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, Phil Craig, also welcomed the opening of the new piece of EV infrastructure. “Origin is seeking to support this new technology with electric vehicle charging equipment and services, delivering a simple and effective one-stop solution to consumers,” Mr Craig said.

“Together with Holden, Origin hopes to encourage the take up of more electric vehicles in Australia.”

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Holden Volt Charges Into Australia By Late 2012

The cutting-edge Holden Volt electric vehicle with extended range mode will establish an entirely new segment in the Australian market when it launches late in 2012. The five-door, four-passenger Volt is designed to provide the benefits of an electric vehicle without the range limitations usually associated with electric vehicles.

“The Holden Volt can be the only car you need to own,” said Mike Devereux, Holden Chairman and Managing Director.

“The Volt is a true game changer for Holden and the entire industry. It promises to revolutionise the way people view electric vehicles with its world-beating drivetrain, progressive styling and outstanding safety.

“The Volt also signals the start of a new era for Holden as we take a leadership position on technology and sustainable motoring. This is an incredibly exciting vehicle.”

Source: Holden

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Holden Volt first engineering test car arriving in Australia

The first Holden Volt has landed in Australia and has been revealed to employees at a special event held at Holden headquarters today.

This first cutting-edge Holden Volt vehicle arrived into Australia from the United States and is a left-hand drive model that has been adapted for use by the engineering team to begin in-country validation and verification.

The Volt has been used for numerous engineering evaluation trips, seeing it drive to various places around the country including Sydney and Canberra.

Paul Gibson, Director of Electrical Engineering at Holden, said: “The engineering department will use these validation exercises to ensure the electrical infrastructure around the country supports the Volt and that the recharging process is as seamless as possible for customers,”
The Holden Volt represents a major milestone for the Red Lion brand.

Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said the Holden Volt will be a game changer for Holden and the wider automotive industry in this country.

“It is among the most technologically advanced cars on the road anywhere in the world and spearheads Holden‟s push to become a leader in the field of technology and sustainable motoring.

“The Volt will make driving more economical, more environmentally-friendly and will fundamentally change the way Australia thinks about alternative transport solutions. This is the start of something big for Holden and Australia.”

Many of the Volt's benefits are due to its groundbreaking propulsion system; the Volt was the world's first electric vehicle with extended range capability. Driven purely by the advanced lithium ion battery, the Volt can drive on electric-only power using electricity stored in its 16 kW/h lithium ion battery.

When the battery runs low, a petrol-powered engine seamlessly operates to recharge the battery, thereby eliminating "range anxiety" and making the Volt the most practical electric car on the market.

Owners of the Volt in the United States have recorded up to 2300km (equivalent) of driving before needing to refuel the petrol engine, which acts as a generator to recharge the battery.

The Holden Volt will go on sale in Australia towards the end of 2012. Further technical information and specification details will be released closer to launch.

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